Desalination

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the (a) cost and (b) carbon dioxide output per cubic metre of desalination.

Elliot Morley: Desalination not been previously used as an option for water supply in the UK. Costs and emissions will be determined by the particulars of the operation concerned, for example, each will depend on whether brackish or sea water is involved; the source of energy used; and whether or not the plant is used continuously or to meet peak demands.
	Projections from South East Water, who are constructing a small desalination plant on the South coast, point to an energy consumption around 4.5–4.7 kWh per cubic metre of water produced, using energy from a combined heat and power plant. The company has also estimated, in its business plan for the Periodic Review of water prices in 2004, that the cost will be around 47 pence per cubic metre.

Flood Prevention

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the (a) Environment Agency and (b) other operating authorities allocated to flood risk prevention measures for the Suffolk coast and its tidal rivers in each year since 2003–04.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency is the principal operating authority with responsibility for flood risk management in England and has allocated the following sums for flood risk measures on the Suffolk coast and its tidal rivers:
	
		
			   £000 
			  Capital Maintenance 
		
		
			 2003–04 775 365 
			 2004–05 764 826 
			 2005–06(1) 4,582 380 
			 2006–07(1) 4,032 700 
		
	
	(1) Forecast.
	The aforementioned figures exclude costs in producing strategy plans but include design costs for works.
	Waveney district council is promoting a £5 million capital improvement project at Southwold with funding from DEFRA which will provide protection from both flooding and coastal erosion. The latest estimate of spend is £2.3 million in 2005–06 and £3.4 million in 2006–07.
	Figures for other measures by local authorities for flood (as opposed to coastal erosion) risk management on the Suffolk coast and its tidal rivers are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Household Appliances

James McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Government plan to introduce rules to regulate the amount of energy that can be used by electrical household appliances in (a) standby and (b) no load mode.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 27 March 2006
	The Government are committed to raising product standards, including the energy used by appliances.
	Mandatory standards for appliances are set at EU level. The new Eco-Design for Energy Using Products Framework Directive provides a route for setting such requirements, and we are pressing for stand-by power to be a priority area for action. Our Market Transformation Programme (MTP) has also been working to promote other measures: for example, an EU-wide voluntary agreement means that the majority of new televisions sold in the UK now consume around 1 watt of power in stand-by mode rather than the 3–8 watts consumed by older models. Discussions are now under way to extend this agreement to cover other consumer electronics.
	The Budget also announced a new initiative, in partnership with major retailers and the Energy Saving Trust, to introduce voluntary schemes in the retail sector which encourage the purchase of more energy efficient alternatives in consumer electronics.

Kyoto Protocol

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government is taking to meet its commitments on carbon reductions under the Kyoto Protocol; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The UK expects to exceed by about 7 percentage points its Kyoto Protocol commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent. below base year levels by 2008–12. Latest available figures indicate that in 2004 UK greenhouse gas emissions were 14.6 per cent. lower than base year levels. The additional policies and measures to be introduced from the current review of the UK's Climate Change Programme will achieve further reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Pollution

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the change has been in the level of (a) carbon dioxide emissions and (b) carbon dioxide emissions from (i) aviation and (ii) shipping from the UK since 1990.

Elliot Morley: According to latest Government statistics published in January 2006, total net carbon dioxide emissions (including removals by sinks) fell by 5.6 per cent. between 1990 and 2004. Over the same period, carbon dioxide emissions from domestic aviation have increased by an estimated 80 per cent. and carbon dioxide emissions from domestic shipping have decreased by an estimated 11 per cent. The figures presented in the following table do not include emissions from international aviation or international shipping which, according to rules agreed internationally, are estimated and recorded by the UK in its greenhouse gas inventory but are not counted in assessments of progress against international climate change targets.
	
		
			 UK, million tonnes carbon (MtC) equivalent 1990 2004 Percentage change 
		
		
			 Total net carbon dioxide emissions (including removals by sinks) 161.5 152.5 -5.6 
			 Carbon dioxide emissions from domestic aviation 0.35 0.63 +80 
			 Carbon dioxide emissions from domestic shipping 1.12 1.0 -11

Water

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what plans the Government have to ensure adequate supplies of water to houses proposed under the Sustainable Communities Plan;
	(2)  what (a) assessment her Department has made of and (b) research has been conducted by her Department on the effect of the Sustainable Communities Plan on water supplies.

Elliot Morley: It is for the individual water companies concerned to consider the need for increasing provision of water in fulfilment of their statutory duties to maintain adequate supplies of water. They have 25 year water resource plans which seek to reconcile supply with anticipated demand. This forward planning framework exists to take account of factors such as the water supply and disposal infrastructure required to service significant new housing developments such as that proposed under the Sustainable Communities Plan. Water resources plans will become a statutory requirement under the provisions of the Water Act 2003.
	ODPM and Defra jointly commissioned a major research project, 'A Sustainability Impact Study of Additional Housing Scenarios in England', to consider the environmental, social and economic impacts of additional housing supply proposed by the Barker Review. As part of the project a nine-region model was developed to examine the relationship between housing supply and various environmental impacts, including land take, waste production, water use and energy use. The research indicated that the reaching the Government's ambition of 200,000 additional new houses would result in an additional demand of 12 million litres per day in 2016 above the 12,728 million litres/day in the baseline.

Water

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information her Department collects on the charges levied on (a) domestic and (b) commercial consumers of (i) metered and (ii) unmetered supplies by each water and sewerage undertaking in each county of England.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 23 March 2006
	The Department does not collect information on the charges levied by water and sewerage undertakers in England. The Office of Water Services (Ofwat), the economic regulator of the water industry, collects information on the household and non-household charges made by the water and sewerage undertakers. This information is based on the areas that the companies serve rather than administrative counties.
	Ofwat publishes information on charges in its annual "Tariff structures and charges report". Companies have recently sent out bills for 2006–07. Information for this charging year will be available in the 2006–07 report which will be published in April.
	The following tables show water and sewerage companies' charges to households for 2005–06. The first table provides the average unmeasured household bill for this period charged by each water and sewerage undertaker. The second provides the average measured bill for this period charged by each water and sewerage undertaker.
	Detailed information on companies' charges for non-household customers can be found in Ofwat's "Tariff structures and charges 2005–06 report" which is available in the Library of the House. Most non-household customers pay a charge calculated via a volumetric rate. Most water and sewerage undertakers also levy a fixed charge on their non-household customers according to the size of the meter that the customer has. This fixed charge varies from company to company.
	
		Average unmeasured household bills—2005–06 £
		
			  Water(3) Sewerage Combined 
		
		
			 Water and sewerage companies
			 Anglian 158 199 357 
			 Dwr Cymru 153 199 352 
			 Northumbrian 114 145 259 
			 Essex and Suffolk (part Northumbrian) 159 — — 
			 Severn Trent 135 125 260 
			 South West 177 323 500 
			 Southern 109 202 311 
			 Thames 155 103 258 
			 United Utilities 139 157 296 
			 Wessex 155 178 333 
			 Yorkshire (including York) 133 145 278 
			 
			 Water only companies
			 Bournemouth & West Hampshire 137 — — 
			 Bristol 133 — — 
			 Cambridge 115 — — 
			 Cholderton 158 — — 
			 Dee Valley 129 — — 
			 Folkestone and Dover 175 — — 
			 Mid Kent 156 — — 
			 Portsmouth 79 — — 
			 South East 163 — — 
			 South Staffs 105 — — 
			 Sutton and East Surrey 151 — — 
			 Tendring Hundred 204 — — 
			 Three Valleys (including North Surrey) 148 — — 
		
	
	(3) Forecast.
	
		Average measured household bills 2005–06 £
		
			  Water(4) Sewerage Combined 
		
		
			 Water and sewerage companies
			 Anglian 116 147 263 
			 Dwr Cymru 105 114 219 
			 Northumbrian 94 124 218 
			 Essex and Suffolk (part Northumbrian) 116 — — 
			 Severn Trent 113 118 231 
			 South West 116 194 310 
			 Southern 103 167 270 
			 Thames 133 100 233 
			 United Utilities 124 140 264 
			 Wessex 116 133 249 
			 Yorkshire (including York) 111 119 230 
			 
			 Water only companies
			 Bournemouth & West Hampshire 114 — — 
			 Bristol 115 — — 
			 Cambridge 94 — — 
			 Cholderton 139 — — 
			 Dee Valley 89 — — 
			 Folkestone and Dover 127 — — 
			 Mid Kent 124 — — 
			 Portsmouth 80 — — 
			 South East 130 — — 
			 South Staffs 100 — — 
			 Sutton and East Surrey 114 — — 
			 Tendring Hundred 139 — — 
			 Three Valleys (including North Surrey) 122 — — 
		
	
	(4) Forecast.

Labour Market Statistics

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the most recent Labour Market statistics for Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Darling: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to questions 2, 3 and 7.

Small Firms

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what definition the Department uses of a small firm.

David Cairns: There is no single definition of a small firm with terms such as "small firm" and "SME" (Small and Medium sized Enterprise) being used interchangeably. The Scotland Office uses definitions based on the European Commission recommendation of May 2003 and the Companies Act 1985.

Souvenir Shop (Fairtrade Products)

Jo Swinson: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many products sold in the souvenir shop are Fairtrade products.

Nick Harvey: At present, the souvenir shop sells two ranges of ethically traded products: embossed leather goods and embroidered Christmas tree decorations. 95 per cent. of souvenirs sold in the House of Commons shops are produced in the UK.

Westminster Hall

Nigel Evans: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission whether Westminster Hall is on schedule to be reopened on time; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: The building works are progressing satisfactorily and the Hall is currently on programme to re-open in early October at the end of the summer recess period as originally planned. The Hall has been closed since the beginning of the year to allow the reconstruction of the steps at the south end of the Hall to take place. General enabling works took place beneath the steps (to remove asbestos and secure building services) out of sight of visitors. Work has now commenced inside the Hall including removal of the steps, flooring slabs and archaeological exploratory operations. The works may be viewed through windows inserted in the safety hoarding across the top of the steps at St. Stephens entrance.

Bottled Water

John Spellar: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if the Commission will arrange for jugs of water to be provided in committee and meeting rooms as a replacement for or alternative to bottled water.

Nick Harvey: The Administration Committee considered a suggestion that tap water be provided in place of bottled water in committee and meeting rooms at its meeting on 17 January 2006 and decided to take no action. Further consideration is being given to the provision of water in committee and meeting rooms.

Parliamentary Calendar

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Leader of the House what plans he has to review the parliamentary calendar.

Nigel Griffiths: There are no present plans for a formal review of the parliamentary calendar though my right hon. Friend is always open to representations on this as on other matters.

Capita Group

Chris Grayling: To ask the Leader of the House how much business his office has placed with (a) Capita Group plc and (b) its subsidiaries in each of the last five years; what the total value is of outstanding contracts placed with Capita Group plc and its subsidiaries by his office; for which current tenders issued by his Office (i) Capita Group plc and (ii) its subsidiaries have been invited to bid; and whether (A) Capita Group plc and (B) its subsidiaries have seconded staff (1) temporarily and (2) on a longer-term basis to his office.

Nigel Griffiths: The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons has used the Capita Group once within the last five years. The details are set out as follows. There are no outstanding contracts or current tenders issued by my office to Capita Group or its subsidiaries and no staff from Capita have been seconded to the office.
	
		Capita Business Services Ltd.
		
			 Service—one-off instant recruitment Cost (£) 
		
		
			 November 2003 910.63

Sexual Harassment

Ben Chapman: To ask the Solicitor-General how many cases of sexual harassment were brought in which the defendant was subsequently acquitted of all charges in the last year for which figures are available.

Mike O'Brien: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) holds no discrete record of proceedings for sexual harassment. The term comprises a range of different behaviours, some of them representing offences under the criminal law while others are covered by various provisions of the civil law.
	With effect from September 2004, CPS sources provide a record of the number of defendants prosecuted for sexual offences, and of the outcome of proceedings. The table below shows these figures for the last two years: however, the figures comprise all prosecutions for sexual offences, not just those for harassment. The table shows, together with the number and proportion of defendants acquitted, those whose case did not proceed, and those whose case resulted in conviction.
	
		Proceedings for sexual offences
		
			  2004–05(5) 2005–06(6) 
			  Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Prosecution did not proceed 1,211 20.9 2,307 20.6 
			 Acquitted at trial 966 16.6 1,819 16.3 
			 Total unsuccessful outcomes 2,777 37.5 4,126 36.9 
			 Convicted 3,625 62.5 7,065 63.1 
			 Total 5,802  11,191  
		
	
	(5) September 2004 to March 2005
	(6) April 2005 to 22 March 2006

Cyclists

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of cyclists who use the railway network daily in each region; what action he is taking to encourage more cyclists to make part of their longer journeys by train; what improvements in facilities for cyclists using the rail network are planned; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Data are not collected in the form requested.
	Each train operating company (TOC) is responsible for both their policy on the carriage of bikes on trains and the provision of cycle parking at stations.
	The Government have adopted the Cycling Policy document produced in 2004 by the Strategic Rail Authority. This encourages all TOCs to carry folding bikes at all times, to carry non folding bikes wherever possible, while recognising that in peak periods there may be circumstances where it is in the best interests of the majority of passengers not to do so. To supply cycle parking at most rail stations. The policy recommends that TOCs provide sufficient cycle parking at stations so that 95 per cent. of all rail journeys start from a station with adequate cycle parking by 2009. To support this policy the DfT recently funded an additional 2,900 cycle parking spaces at stations where demand exceeded capacity.
	The franchise replacement process provides an opportunity to improve cycle facilities at stations, and to address the requirements of cyclists who wish to use trains. Bidders for the imminent South Western franchise will be asked to consider cycle-rail integration matters in their bid submissions.
	As part of our ongoing commitment to bike and rail journeys I am discussing with our advisory body on cycling, Cycling England how we might further encourage such journeys.

Homeland Security

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what rehearsals have taken place to prepare for a terrorist attack on (a) the Merseyrail in Liverpool and (b) the Tyne and Wear Metro in Newcastle.

Derek Twigg: Merseytravel, with its partners at Merseyrail Electrics, the local police and other emergency services undertake exercises to ensure preparedness for a terrorist attack. They are working with the Department to implement the lessons learnt from the last exercise in January 2006.
	The Tyne and Wear Metro took part in a series of desk top exercises in 2005 involving emergency evacuation in restricted access locations. The exercises were coordinated by the Tyne and Wear Emergency Planning Unit and involved Network Rail and all five local authorities in Tyne and Wear.

Local Transport Plans

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultation a local authority is required to carry out before introducing a local transport plan.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 27 March 2006
	Advice to local authorities on consultation was included in the "Full Guidance on Local Transport Plans" issued in December 2004, available on the DfT website: www.dft.gov.uk

Railways

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive on the East Coast main line franchise.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 27 March 2006
	The Secretary of State has had no recent meetings with the Scottish Executive on the East Coast Main Line franchise.

Railways

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely impact of EU Directive 2004/49/EC on heritage railways; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 27 March 2006
	I laid before Parliament on 17 March 2006 the proposed Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations (ROGS) which implement the safety management aspects of EU Directive 2004/49/EC. An explanatory memorandum, transposition note and regulatory impact assessment for all sectors of the railway, including heritage railways, accompany the proposed regulations. A copy has been placed in the House Library.

Railways

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what rules apply to the provision of air conditioning on new railway rolling stock.

Derek Twigg: There is no requirement to fit air conditioning on trains. The general requirements for ventilation of passenger areas and cabs on trains are covered in part 2f, sections 192 to 197 of the Railway Safety Principles and Guidelines published by Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate.
	If air conditioning equipment is fitted then there are standards which ensure that, in an emergency, adequate ventilation is provided and, should a fire occur, there is the opportunity to evacuate the vehicle safely. These are set out in the Association of Train Operating Companies' Good Practice Guides 003 and 004 and in standards GM RT 2120 (a Railway Group Standard) and AV/ST 9002 (an Association of Train Operating Companies standard).

Road Congestion

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what mechanisms are in place to measure congestion on the road network; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Information on congestion data sources, indicators and targets is contained in the document "Congestion on the strategic road network: 2004–05 target baseline figure and methodology" at www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_transstats/documents/downloadable/dft_transstats_611157.pdf and "Technical Notes for Spending Review 2004 PSA Targets" at www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_about/documents/pdf/dft_about_pdf_030578.pdf (sections PSA Target 1 and PSA Target 4). For the target on urban congestion (PSA 4) the Technical Note is provisional and we expect to set final targets in July 2006.

Road Humps

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research he has conducted on the impact on road casualties of the removal of road humps.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department has not conducted any specific research into the impact on road casualties of the removal of road humps. However research does show road humps can achieve significant reductions in vehicle speeds, and that a 1 mph reduction in average speed can reduce accident risk by 5 per cent.

Low Carbon Buildings

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much low carbon buildings programme capital grant will be available in the first year of the programme.

Malcolm Wicks: Of the initial budget of £30 million, approximately £11 million will be available for grants across all streams of the programme during the first year of the programme. The scheme will be launched in April on this basis.
	On 23 March the Budget 2006 announced an additional £50 million for the programme. The Department will be considering urgently with Treasury colleagues how this money should be allocated.

Microgeneration

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the systems compatibility of large base-load power generation plants with small-scale micro-generation power systems.

Malcolm Wicks: Issues relating to the compatibility of large generating plant and micro-generation are primarily a matter for the UK System Operator, National Grid. However, in 2004, the DTI in conjunction with Ofgem and National Grid established the Electricity Systems Technical Issues Steering Group to investigate the performance of the electricity networks given likely longer term changes in the UK generation portfolio and to ensure that any technical issues that might arise were recognised in good time. The group published an interim report, which can be found at www.dti.gov.uk/renewables/publications_pdfs/estiginterimreportfinal.pdf and is currently working with National Grid to undertake more detailed studies that should be completed late summer 2006.

Pension Rights (Bankruptcy)

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in the case of (a) insolvency and (b) bankruptcy or liquidation, how workers' pensions rank in priority for payment against payments to (i) shareholders, (ii) tax collecting authorities, (iii) staff, (iv) secured creditors and (v) unsecured creditors; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The distribution of assets in insolvency proceedings follows an order of priority. There are three categories of creditor—secured, preferential and unsecured. In insolvencies commencing on or after 15 September 2003 (when the Crown gave up its right to claim unpaid taxes preferentially) the only amounts which may be claimed preferentially are amounts due in respect of recent unpaid wages and holiday pay, sums owed in respect of recent unpaid contributions to occupational pension schemes or state scheme premiums, and levies on coal and steel production.
	Any shortfall on the realisation of property subject to a charge and amounts due to employees or pension schemes that is not preferential is unsecured. Generally speaking, unsecured creditors rank equally.
	A return of capital to a shareholder can only be made if all the costs of the insolvency and all of the creditors have been paid in full, including statutory interest on their debts.

Post Office Card Account

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people are using the Post Office card account to receive (a) pensions and (b) other benefits in (i) Lancaster and Wyre and (ii) Lancashire; and how many transactions there were in relation to such payments in each of the last two years.

James Plaskitt: I have been asked to reply.
	Information showing the number of DWP benefit and pension payment accounts paid by direct payment into a Post Office card account for each parliamentary constituency has been placed in the Library.
	The information on the actual number of transactions for payments made into a Post Office card account broken down for (i) Lancaster and Wyre and (ii) Lancashire is not available within DWP.

Renewable Energy

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much his Department has allocated to renewable energy in the last five years.

Malcolm Wicks: The DTI spend on renewable technologies for the five years from 2000–01 to 2004–05 is set out in the following table.
	
		DTI new and renewable energy programme—external spend for each technology area by financial year from 1990–91 Rounded to nearest thousand
		
			  Spend 
			 Programme area 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Bio Wastes 56,000 13,000 42,000 259,000 — 
			 Biomass 1,267,000 1,333,000 1,595,000 1,346,000 974,222 
			 Embedded Generation 589,000 776,000 1,424,000 725,000 1,105,640 
			 Fuel Cells 1,410,000 1,249,000 1,200,000 1,701,000 4,907,430 
			 Geothermal—Aquifers 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Geothermal—Hot Dry Rocks 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hydro 60,000 130,000 200,000 85,000 0 
			 Solar 1,264,000 1,522,000 4,485,000 3,131,000 1,970,340 
			 Tidal 27,000 305,000 1,996,000 2,914,000 1,268,530 
			 Wave 331,000 662,000 748,000 2,104,000 — 
			 Wind 913,000 1,248,000 1,428,000 1,395,000 1,459,600 
			 Total 5,917,000 7,238,000 13,118,000 13,660,000 11,685,762 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. From 2000–01, figures do not include spend on contracts placed direct by DTI.
	2. For 2004–05, figures in italic show a combined spend for the two areas.
	3. It has not been possible to collate expenditure on oil and gas research in the time available.
	
		
			 £ 
			 DTI capital grant programmes 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 Total 
		
		
			 Biomass (DTI and Lottery spend) — 10,000 1,913,000 1,923,000 
			 Offshore Wind Capital Grants — 0 15,000,000 15,000,000 
			 Clear Skies Community Renewables 200,000 1,387,000 2,413,000 3,800,000 
			 Major PV Demo Programme 960,000 2,880,000 6,450,000 9,330,000 
			 Grand total 1,160,000 4,277,000 25,776,000 30,053,000

Tote

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  whether it is her intention to sell the Tote to a horse racing trust or similar horse racing body;
	(2)  what steps she is taking to ensure that the horse racing industry will continue to benefit from profits made by the Tote when she sells that organisation;
	(3)  what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about the sale of the Tote.

Richard Caborn: The Government remains committed to selling the Tote to a racing trust.
	I believe that this is the best way of ensuring that horseracing continues to receive benefit from the Tote.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State regularly discusses a range of issues with colleagues in other departments.

Corruption

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of aid from the UK that has been lost to corruption in each of the last three financial years (a) under the overall budget, (b) in sub-Saharan Africa and (c) in budget support.

Hilary Benn: I refer my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, North to the response I gave to the hon. Member for St. Albans (Anne Main) on 16 March 2006, Official Report, columns 2425–26W.
	DFID reports annually to the Treasury, all cases of fraud or theft by staff or contractors. DFID does not otherwise estimate the loss of aid funds to corruption but the Department has recently established a Fraud Response Unit to ensure that all cases of reported fraud and corruption are investigated and appropriate action taken to recover any losses.
	DFID requires robust approval, procurement, risk management and reporting arrangements to ensure aid is spent only for the purpose intended, whether funds are managed by DFID or other development partners. We are working with many partner governments to improve their own systems to combat corruption. All aid is subject to independent audit and the National Audit Office has consistently given an unqualified opinion on DFID's accounts.

Diamorphine

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the availability of diamorphine for medicinal purposes in developing countries.

Gareth Thomas: The International Narcotics Control Board consider that the global supply of medicinal opiates, including diamorphine (heroin) is at levels well in excess of use. There are however constraints to demand which are related to countries' own policy restrictions in the use of such drugs. At present diamorphine is subject to tight restrictions on supply and use due to widespread abuse and the capacity to induce dependency. It is not on the WHO Essential Drug list although alternative drugs such as morphine, which are as effective, are included in the list and meet the need for a drug for alleviation of severe pain, particularly in palliative care. This does not preclude counties from procuring and using the drug.
	Countries look to the World Health Organization for guidance on the use of such drugs. A number of WHO expert groups will meet in coming months to address issues around improving palliative care, dealing with drug dependency and to revise the essential drug list. The outcome of their deliberations may influence the availability and use of diamorphine for medicinal purposes in developing countries.
	DFID normally supports health programmes in developing countries through contributions to the health budget and decisions on which medicines to procure are the responsibility of the Ministry of Health.

Lesotho

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development why Lesotho was not included in the final round of countries to be considered for debt cancellation.

Gareth Thomas: An increased number of countries have become eligible for the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative on the basis of their debt burdens at the end of 2004. They must now begin to make progress through the initiative by the end of 2006 in order to continue to be eligible.
	There are two requirements to be eligible for HIPC status:
	1. Countries must be eligible to receive assistance only from the most concessional lending arm of the World Bank and the International Development Association (IDA). IDA countries are defined as having a gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of $965 or less.
	2. A country's debt burden must be considered unsustainable in comparison to its revenue and exports.
	Lesotho is an IDA only borrower, but does not meet the criteria defining unsustainable debt.
	Lesotho could however qualify for the UK's multilateral debt relief initiative (MDRI) providing debt relief to both HIPC and low-income countries (LIC). Under this initiative, the UK pays its share (10 per cent.) of the debt service costs to the World Bank (IDA loans) and African Development Fund debt, of non-HIPC, low-income countries like Lesotho. To qualify for relief under this initiative, countries are required to demonstrate robust public financial management systems to ensure the savings are used for poverty reduction. We are using poverty reduction support credits (PRSC) as a proxy measure of this.
	Lesotho is discussing the possibility of a PRSC with the World Bank. DFID is also providing support to Lesotho to improve its financial management systems in order to help it qualify for MDRI.
	Lesotho will benefit indirectly from the G8 multilateral debt relief initiative (MDRI). The G8 MDRI will result in HIPCs receiving full debt cancellation of remaining debts to the World Bank (IDA loans), the African Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Donor support for this will be allocated by these institutions to all poor countries (including non-HIPCs), and therefore Lesotho.

Palestinian Territories

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the role of private sector initiatives as a means of sustaining international aid to the Palestinian territories.

Hilary Benn: I refer my hon. Friend the Member for Dudley, North to the response I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South (Mr. Cunningham) on 2 March 2006, Official Report, column 881W.

Tsunami

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of aid distribution to those areas affected by the December 2004 tsunami, with particular reference to whether it has been distributed without reference to religious, political or other such considerations.

Gareth Thomas: We have monitored the distribution of DFID aid to those affected by the December 2004 tsunami. We did learn of some problems in India, where there was some reluctance by the authorities to allow aid to reach certain castes. This was overcome through representations made to the authorities. More recently, however, we have seen the January 2006 report of a five-country study by a group of international charities reporting internal discrimination. Although we manage and monitor DFID humanitarian aid very closely and have found no evidence of discrimination in the distribution of DFID aid in tsunami-affected countries, we take such reporting seriously and are prepared both to discuss this with the international charities and to intervene again, if necessary, with the national authorities.
	DFID has provided £1.5 million to the North East Provincial Council Secretariat (NEPC) in partnership with the Governments of Germany and Sri Lanka to improve its capacity to deliver aid and to help ensure that Tamil areas received improved access to development assistance. DFID also channelled £3 million through the United Nations Development Programme for the 'UN Recovery Framework for Post-Tsunami Rehabilitation and Reconstruction' which is helping to ensure that the needs of socially-excluded groups are met during recovery.
	A group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), jointly funded by DFID and International NGOs, initiated a Social Equity Audit process in response to claims that some Dalits in India and other groups were being excluded from some post tsunami humanitarian efforts. A group of independent auditors have been trained by experts identified by the International NGOs. The International NGOs will submit their programmes to these auditors to assess how inclusive their post tsunami activities have been in order to improve their programmes and identify ways to make their humanitarian efforts more inclusive in the future. The United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Children's Fund have signed up to the initiative and a Social Equity auditing manual is likely to be produced which DFID will disseminate to NGOs and agencies.

Domestic Violence Courts

John Smith: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make a statement on the introduction of specialist domestic violence courts.

Harriet Harman: By 1 April 2006, the Government's Specialist Domestic Violence Court programme will be supporting 25 specialist domestic violence court systems across England and Wales. These are not just about the courthouse or the practices of the court but are about a multi agency approach which makes the court system and the CJS part of a community wide response to domestic violence.

Carter Review

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the likely effect of Lord Carter's proposals on legal aid on (a) black and minority ethnic-owned legal firms and (b) ethnic minority communities.

Harriet Harman: Lord Carter's review is independent of Government and is due to be published in late spring 2006. No detailed assessment of the likely effect of Lord Carter's proposals can be provided until then.
	The terms of reference for Lord Carter's review require that
	"any plan for procurement reform should encourage a diverse and competitive market of lawyers".
	Furthermore, Lord Carter's interim report—in acknowledging that assistance will be needed to ensure that smaller firms are able to adapt to a new procurement regime—states that
	"this [support] will be particularly important in respect of black and minority ethnic firms, to ensure that suppliers continue to reflect the diversity of the communities that they serve."

Kelly Inquiry

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what factors led to the decision to appoint Lord Hutton to head the inquiry into Dr. David Kelly's death; who took that decision; and who was consulted upon it.

Harriet Harman: I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
	Substantive answer from Harriet Harman to Norman Baker:
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given in response to PQ 152676 to the hon. Member for Southend, West (Mr. Amess) on 5 February 2004, Official Report, column 1077W.

Legal Services Commission

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when the minority impact assessment report commissioned by the Legal Services Commission will be published.

Harriet Harman: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) on 20 March 2006, Official Report, column 75W. The report to which the hon. Member refers has not yet been finalised. The Legal Services Commission intends to publish it in due course.

Residence/Guardianship Orders

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many people have sought leave to apply for (a) a residence order and (b) a special guardianship order in the last three months for which figures are available; and how many were family members as defined under section 105 of the Children Act 1989.

Harriet Harman: Statistical information on the number of applications for "leave to apply" for a residence or a special guardianship order is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Adult Education

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of the Learning and Skills Council's total budget for adult learning was spent on first-step learning in the academic year (a) 2002–03, (b) 2003–04 and (c) 2004–05.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 16 March 2006
	I have overall responsibility for the LSC; however the operations of the LSC are managed and overseen by Mark Haysom, the LSC's chief executive. The annual grant letter sets the overall LSC budget for the year; and the annual accounts includes a breakdown of adult programme expenditure, including further education, and PCDL (ACL). Allocations below these levels including to first-steps learning and expenditure by academic years, are a matter for the LSC. I therefore have asked Mark Haysom, who has written to my hon. Friend with further information and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.
	The following table shows the LSC adult programme spend from the LSC for the financial years (a) 2002–03, (b) 2003–04 and (c) 2004–05 taken for the LSC annual accounts.
	
		
			  Adult programme expenditure (£) 
		
		
			 2002–03 2,427,229 
			 2003–04 2,888,486 
			 2004–05 2,998,735 
		
	
	Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 23 March 2006
	Adult Learning and First Step Provision
	I write with in response to your recent Parliamentary Question, regarding Adult Learning.
	First-step learning is designed to introduce, or re-introduce adults back into learning and to provide them with the necessary foundation to progress, where appropriate, to a first full level 2. As such first-step learning may be regarded as all learning activity (including skills for life) at pre-entry and national qualification framework (or equivalent) entry level and level 1.
	However, individuals engage in learning at these levels for a variety of reasons, not just for reasons of first-step activity. The following table therefore identifies only the percentage of LSC adult programme spend on learning below level 2 (in the academic years 2003/04 and 2004/05) since the LSC does not collect data on learning intention.
	
		
			  Percentage of adult programme expenditure (£) 
		
		
			 2003/04 40.5 
			 2004/05 40.8 
		
	
	I understand that Liz Davis, Executive Director of the LSC in Cheshire and Warrington, has extended a number of invitations over the past year or so to meet with her. While I understand that you are extremely busy may I strongly recommend that you meet with Liz at your earliest convenience to discuss these issues and some of the specific initiatives that are taking place within your constituency?
	I understand from Liz that the LSC and Warrington Borough Council are working together to develop a strategic vision for adult provision across Warrington and to ensure joint planning for the future.
	I hope this is helpful.

A-Levels

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what percentage of (a) A-level candidates and (b) all 18-year-olds in England achieved two or more grades A to E at A-level in (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005;
	(2)  what proportion of candidates in England achieved passes at grades A* to C at GCSE in at least five subjects including English and mathematics in (a) 2004 and (b) 2005.

Jacqui Smith: The figures requested are shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  2004–05 2003–04 
		
		
			 Percentage of 17-year-olds(9)(10) achieving two or more GCE/VCE A-level passes 34.3 34.4 
			 Percentage of 16 to 18-year-old(10) candidates(11) achieving two or more GCE/VCE A-level passes 93.2 92.0 
		
	
	(9) Based on estimates provided by the Government Actuary's Department.
	(10) Age at start of academic year, i.e. 31 August.
	(11) A candidate is a student who has attempted at least one GCE A-level, VCE A-level or VCE Double Award in summer of the academic year.
	
		
			  2004–05(13) 2003–04(13) 
		
		
			 Number of 15-year-old pupils(12) 636,796 643,560 
			 Percentage achieving 5 or more grades A*-C at GCSE or equivalent including English and mathematics GCSE A*-C 44.3 42.6 
		
	
	(12) Age at start of academic year, i.e. 31 August.
	(13) Includes attempts and achievements by these pupils in previous academic years.

Disabled Children

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many disabled children, as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, her Department expects to have attended children's centres by April 2007;
	(2)  when the Government plan to issue guidance to children's centres on their duties under the Disability Discrimination Act 2005;
	(3)  how many children's centres have in place an accessibility plan;
	(4)  how many disabled children, as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, aged under five years attending children's centres (a) have a statement of special educational needs and (b) are on early action plans;
	(5)  how many early years professionals employed in children's centres meet the Special Educational Needs Standard set by the Training and Development Agency.

Beverley Hughes: Information is not collected centrally on: how many children's centres have in place an accessibility plan; how many children as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, aged under five years attending children's centres have a statement of special educational needs and are on early years action plans; or how many people employed in children's centres meet the Special Educational Needs Standard set by the Training and Development Agency for Schools.
	Guidance for early years providers setting out their duties under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 is already available and DfES is working with the Council for Disabled Children to produce additional resources for children's centres that will include information about the 2005 duty to promote disability equality. The resources will be available later this year. The DfES Code of Practice on the "Provision of Nursery Education Places for Three- and Four-Year Olds", published in February, drew attention to the Disability Rights Commission's Codes of Practice, one of which gives guidance on the new duty.
	Children's centres do not have a duty to have an access plan, but Sure Start has published good practice and training materials on the internet for the early years sector on providing inclusive and accessible services.
	We expect children's centres to offer inclusive services for all young children and their families. Disabled children, alongside all other children under 5 will be able to access the range of services provided through their local centre according to their needs. We issued guidance in November 2005 (Sure Start Children's Centres: Practice Guidance) which describes effective ways of working with disabled children and their families and emphasises the importance of outreach services including Portage.

Post-16 Education

Edward Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many employers in (a) the Wakefield District and (b) Normanton constituency are providing post-16 education; what the national average is for the number of such employers in a (i) district and (ii) constituency area; and what steps are being taken to encourage more employers to offer such education in each area.

Phil Hope: To encourage employers to participate in training, we have established an employer-led training infrastructure that puts their needs centre stage. This is reflected in the design and delivery arrangements of, for example, the new national employer training programme Train To Gain. In Further Education we will be looking at the recommendations of the Foster Report on FE Colleges' responsiveness to local and regional employer needs and will be announcing our plans for the next stage of reform in the spring. Responsibility for the planning and funding of post-16 learning outside Higher Education, however, is the responsibility of the Learning and Skills Council and Mark Haysom, the council's chief executive has written to my hon. Friend with further detailed information and a copy of his letter has been placed in the House Library.
	Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 8 March 2006
	I am writing in response to your recent Parliamentary Question about employers involved in post 16 education in Wakefield and Normanton.
	Before going into detail may I say a word about the LSC's policy in relation to meeting the learning and skills needs of employers, and how we work on this in partnership with others.
	At the end of 2005 we published the LSC's Statement of Priorities for 2006/07, a copy of which I enclose. As you will see one of our six priorities is to make learning truly demand-led so that it better meets the needs of employers, young people and adults. This lies at the very heart of your question.
	As you will see from pages 12 and 13 of the booklet we have a number of initiatives designed to support employers and learners, and I would like to highlight two in particular.
	First, we are building on the success of the Employer Training Pilots (ETP) and from April 2006 we shall roll-out Train to Gain nationally to deliver a range of high quality training for employers with an emphasis on level 2 qualifications and skills for life. A key element of Train to Gain will be a network of skills brokers giving advice to companies on their training needs.
	As you will know West Yorkshire is a pilot area for ETP and of the total number of employers engaged in ETP in West Yorkshire, 12.2% (180) are in Wakefield. This is slightly lower than its proportionate share of employers in West Yorkshire, but provides a good platform for a successful launch of Train to Gain. Unfortunately we do not have figures for Normanton.
	The second initiative is agenda for change which will radically transform the post 16 learning and skills sector, especially in colleges which are key partners in meeting employer needs. Agenda for change is based on extensive consultation with college principals and involves a genuine partnership between the LSC and the further education sector. Again, full details are given in the booklet.
	Turning to the information you have requested, I'm afraid we do not hold it in a way that enables me to answer your question precisely, but I hope the information on the chart I have enclosed is helpful.
	Finally, I know that Margaret Coleman, the LSC Regional Director for Yorkshire and the Humber would be very happy to discuss this in more detail, either in your constituency or at the House, for a meeting to be arranged please contact her office directly either via e-mail margaret.coleman@lsc.gov.uk or via telephone 01274 44 4100.

School Trusts

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  whether a fast food company would be permitted to set up a school trust;
	(2)  when she will answer question 35341, tabled on 1 December 2005 by the hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton, on trust schools.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 6 December 2005
	It will not be open to any organisation to set up a school trust. It will be for the governing bodies of individual schools to decide whether to form partnerships with trusts, following consultation with parents and other stakeholders. All such trusts will be charities and the consultation will need to set out who the members of the charity will be. In deciding whether to acquire a particular trust, governing bodies will need to take account of the impact of the trust on driving up standards and promoting the well-being of pupils and the wider community. The school would be inspected against the contribution it makes to the five outcomes, including "being healthy". As part of this, inspectors would assess the school's success in promoting healthy eating. Where there are concerns about the nature of a proposed trust, the local authority will be able to refer the case to the schools adjudicator for determination.

Schools (Brighton and Hove)

David Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many full-time equivalent teachers were working in maintained schools in Brighton and Hove in each year since 1996–97.

Jacqui Smith: The following table provides the full-time equivalent number of regular teachers (excluding occasionals) employed in maintained schools by each local authority and Government office region, January 1997 to 2005.
	Brighton and Hove local authority was created on 1 April 1997 and therefore figures are not available for January 1997.
	
		Table 15: full-time equivalent regular teachers (excluding occasionals) in service in the maintained sector(24) each year by local authority(25) and Government office region: January 1997 to 2005 England
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Gateshead 1,680 1,630 1,580 1,630 1,670 1,660 1,650 1,620 1,630 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 2,120 2,130 2,140 2,130 2,180 2,230 2,170 2,160 2,170 
			 North Tyneside 1,650 1,640 1,630 1,600 1,820 1,690 1,650 1,700 1,730 
			 South Tyneside 1,370 1,350 1,380 1,310 1,440 1,460 1,410 1,430 1,410 
			 Sunderland 2,660 2,620 2,650 2,620 2,670 2,670 2,640 2,670 2,690 
			 Hartlepool 840 810 800 820 840 850 840 850 870 
			 Middlesbrough 1,380 1,340 1,270 1,300 1,270 1,310 1,280 1,150 1,160 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 1,300 1,280 1,300 1,300 1,280 1,410 1,370 1,390 1,380 
			 Stockton on Tees 1,650 1,660 1,660 1,720 1,740 1,760 1,760 1,770 1,720 
			 Former Durham 4,910 — — — — — — — — 
			 Darlington — 820 820 800 780 840 840 850 860 
			 Durham (post 1 April 1997) — 4,120 4,190 4,190 4,240 4,270 4,310 4,300 4,300 
			 Northumberland 2,630 2,560 2,600 2,590 2,620 2,760 2,760 2,810 2,790 
			 North East 22,200 22,000 22,000 22,000 22,500 22,900 22,700 22,700 22,700 
			 Cumbria 4,030 4,060 4,130 4.240 4,180 4,380 4,430 4,450 4,560 
			 Former Cheshire 8,190 8,240 — — — — — — — 
			 Cheshire (post 1 April 1998) — — 5,490 5,610 5,600 5,680 5,770 5,710 5,700 
			 Halton — — 1,220 1,140 1,140 1,140 1,170 1,140 1,130 
			 Warrington — — 1,530 1,650 1,680 1,720 1,730 1,780 1,800 
			 Bolton 2,440 2,430 2,430 2,500 2,500 2,560 2,540 2,540 2,510 
			 Bury 1,460 1,420 1,460 1,470 1,480 1,490 1,500 1,500 1,550 
			 Manchester 3,850 3,730 4,220 3,750 3,790 3,760 3,820 3,830 3,990 
			 Oldham 2,240 2,220 2,230 2,220 2,280 2,270 2,250 2,290 2,380 
			 Rochdale 1,830 1,840 1,830 1,880 1,870 1,900 1,890 1,930 1,920 
			 Salford 1,920 1,900 1,900 1,950 1,920 1,920 1,890 1,930 1,930 
			 Stockport 2,220 2,170 2,210 2,210 2,330 2,350 2,340 2,380 2,280 
			 Tameside 1,830 1,870 1,940 1,960 1,930 2,070 2,030 2,010 1,990 
			 Trafford 1,750 1,860 1,880 1,910 1,900 1,880 2,020 1,970 1,960 
			 Wigan 2,760 2,690 2,690 2,690 2,590 2,800 2,800 2,830 2,890 
			 Former Lancashire 11,870 11,930 — — — — — — — 
			 Lancashire (post 1 April 1998) — — 9,690 9,750 9,710 9,640 9,710 9,920 9,910 
			 Blackburn with Darwen — — 1,360 1,390 1,310 1,390 1,400 1,410 1,420 
			 Blackpool — — 1,010 1,030 1,100 1,120 1,150 1,160 1,220 
			 Knowsley 1,530 1,530 1,570 1,640 1,530 1,450 1,570 1,510 1,500 
			 Liverpool 4,340 4,280 4,240 4,130 4,320 4,750 4,290 4,410 4,350 
			 St. Helens 1,590 1,570 1,570 1,570 1,570 1,580 1,630 1,550 1,600 
			 Sefton 2,540 2,520 2,510 2,540 2,610 2,620 2,660 2,700 2,520 
			 Wirral 2,930 2,970 2,990 2,970 3,020 3,090 3,080 3,050 3,050 
			 North West 59,300 59,200 60,100 60,200 60,400 61,600 61,700 62,000 62,200 
			   
			 Kingston-Upon-Hull, City of 2,080 2,030 2,060 2,110 2,110 2,150 2,150 2,240 2,260 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 2,410 2,400 2,410 2,500 2,530 2,560 2,640 2,630 2,690 
			 North East Lincolnshire 1,370 1,300 1,310 1,380 1,360 1,450 1,480 1,450 1,420 
			 North Lincolnshire 1,290 1,240 1,290 1,290 1,340 1,300 1,280 1,340 1,350 
			 North Yorkshire (post 1 April 1996) 4,580 4,560 4,680 4,840 4,940 4,940 5,020 5,080 5,080 
			 York 1,290 1,270 1,290 1,350 1,380 1,390 1,380 1,390 1,390 
			 Barnsley 1,620 1,610 1,610 1,640 1,640 1,650 1,680 1,650 1,720 
			 Doncaster 2,690 2,650 2,630 2,670 2,690 2,790 2,780 2,810 2,820 
			 Rotherham 2,360 2,350 2,360 2,380 2,500 2,520 2,500 2,560 2,610 
			 Sheffield 3,930 3,980 4,050 4,050 4,190 4,110 4,120 4,140 4,150 
			 Bradford 4,660 4,590 4,610 4,610 4,400 4,870 4,640 4,690 4,700 
			 Calderdale 1,770 1,740 1,790 1,800 1,840 1,870 1,900 1,920 1,980 
			 Kirklees 3,260 3,240 3,250 3,300 3,370 3,320 3,350 3,420 3,430 
			 Leeds 5,900 5,860 5,910 6,130 6,040 6,080 5,800 6,130 6,220 
			 Wakefield 2,670 2,620 2,630 2,590 2,700 2,750 2,780 2,790 2,830 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 41,900 41,400 41,900 42,700 43,000 43,700 43,500 44,200 44,600 
			   
			 Former Derbyshire 7,530 — — — — — — — — 
			 Derbyshire (post 1 April 1997)(26) — 5,450 5,590 5,670 5,760 5,870 6,190 5,970 6,160 
			 Derby — 1,920 1,830 1,890 1,980 2,020 1,970 2,070 2,130 
			 Former Leicestershire 7,690 — — — — — — — — 
			 Leicestershire (post 1 April 1997)(26) — 4,800 4,860 4,930 5,020 5,040 5,290 5,220 5,220 
			 Leicester — 2,570 2,660 2,600 2,760 2,710 2,590 2,730 2,830 
			 Rutland — 250 260 220 240 250 270 260 260 
			 Lincolnshire 5,130 5,120 5,050 5,090 5,300 5,110 5,240 5,590 5,630 
			 Northamptonshire 5,500 5,290 5,360 5,530 5,330 5,760 5,720 5,760 5,720 
			 Former Nottinghamshire 7,810 7,860 — — — — — — — 
			 Nottinghamshire (post 1 April 1998) — — 5,860 5,950 5,970 6,070 6,180 6,310 6,240 
			 Nottingham — — 2,030 2,070 2,110 2,080 2,240 2,300 2,220 
			 East Midlands 33,700 33,300 33,500 34,000 34,500 34,900 35,700 36,200 36,400 
			   
			 Former Hereford and Worcester 5,370 5,420 — — — — — — — 
			 Herefordshire — — 1,250 1,290 1,300 1,350 1,360 1,380 1,410 
			 Worcestershire — — 4,150 4,210 4,270 4,390 4,430 4,490 4,560 
			 Former Shropshire 3,330 3,350 — — — — — — — 
			 Shropshire (post 1 April 1998) — — 1,940 2,050 2,110 2,140 2,110 2,110 2,080 
			 Telford and Wrekin — — 1,360 1,340 1,410 1.420 1,470 1,450 1,420 
			 Former Staffordshire 8,510 — — — — — — — — 
			 Staffordshire (post 1 April 1997) — 6,510 6,690 6,740 6,800 6,940 7,160 7,100 7,160 
			 Stoke-on-Trent — 1,900 1,890 1,900 1,920 1,940 1,980 1,980 1,980 
			 Warwickshire 3,870 3,940 4,000 4,080 4,150 4,200 4,320 4,380 4,420 
			 Birmingham 9,910 9,800 9,760 9,880 10,220 10,440 10,150 10,110 10,540 
			 Coventry 2,800 2,780 2,810 2,800 2,870 2,920 2,910 2,920 2,910 
			 Dudley 2,690 2,690 2,760 2,740 2,780 2,710 2,710 2,740 2,900 
			 Sandwell 2,730 2,710 2,750 2,680 2,620 2,680 2,730 2.760 2,790 
			 Solihull 1,850 1,850 1,920 1,940 2,050 2,000 2,020 1,970 2,000 
			 Walsall 2,590 2,540 2,610 2,360 2,570 2,500 2,530 2,510 2,650 
			 Wolverhampton 2,230 2,220 2,240 2,270 2,290 2,200 2,260 2,310 2,360 
			 West Midlands 45,900 45,700 46,200 46,300 47,400 47,800 48,200 48,200 49,200 
			   
			 Former Cambridgeshire 5,400 5,390 — — — — — — — 
			 Cambridgeshire (post 1 April 1998) — — 3,870 3,940 4,040 4,060 4,210 4,180 4,220 
			 Peterborough — — 1,550 1,610 1,510 1,760 1,640 1,590 1,600 
			 Norfolk 5.940 5,940 5,980 5,910 6,050 6,150 6,320 6,230 6,190 
			 Suffolk 5,330 5,380 5,450 5,450 5,490 5,660 5,700 5.900 5,810 
			 Former Bedfordshire 4,990 — — — — — — — — 
			 Bedfordshire (post 1 April 1997) — 3,360 3,410 3,330 3,250 3,680 3,750 3,720 3,590 
			 Luton — 1,570 1,560 1,660 1,660 1,730 1,810 1,810 1,870 
			 Former Essex 12,580 12,560 — — — — — — — 
			 Essex (post 1 April 1998) — — 10,580 10,400 10,520 10,920 10,890 10,980 11,190 
			 Southend-on-Sea — — 1,270 1,380 1,410 1,520 1.560 1,610 1,640 
			 Thurrock — — 1,060 1,110 1,180 1,210 1,230 1,250 1,250 
			 Hertfordshire 9,040 8,970 9,070 9,030 9,170 9,550 9,610 9,820 9,810 
			 East of England 43,300 43,200 43,800 43,800 44,300 46,200 46,700 47,100 47,200 
			   
			 City of London 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 
			 Camden 1,500 1,480 1,440 1,340 1,430 1,570 1,450 1,420 1,480 
			 Greenwich 2,070 2,010 2,030 2,040 2,030 2,080 2,140 2,190 2,260 
			 Hackney 1,450 1,490 1,520 1,510 1.480 1,470 1,600 1,550 1,630 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 930 920 930 1,000 1,000 1,010 1,060 1,120 1,140 
			 Islington 1,420 1,410 1,330 1,350 1,300 1,460 1,380 1,440 1,440 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 680 670 680 650 660 670 720 690 690 
			 Lambeth 1,710 1,700 1,660 1,620 1,580 1,670 1.620 1,670 1,770 
			 Lewisham 1,870 1,870 1,810 1,890 1,980 2,070 2,040 2,010 1,990 
			 Southwark 1,750 1,800 1,850 1,840 1,960 2,060 2,090 2,030 2,030 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,270 2,170 2,310 2,250 2,180 2,220 2,310 2,280 2,310 
			 Wandsworth 1,690 1,680 1,700 1,680 1,730 1,770 1,750 1,780 1,840 
			 Westminster 1,140 1,160 1,160 1,190 1,250 1,300 1,320 1,290 1,340 
			 Barking and Dagenham 1,450 1,420 1,450 1,470 1,480 1.510 1,570 1,680 1,650 
			 Barnet 2,770 2,730 2,720 2,710 2,740 2,820 2,850 2,800 2,790 
			 Bexley 1,860 1,870 1,940 1,920 2,030 2,160 2,090 2,110 2,050 
			 Brent 2,160 2,190 2,160 2,100 2,110 2,160 2,380 2,350 2,490 
			 Bromley 2,270 2,330 2,340 2,340 2,540 2,640 2,590 2,620 2,690 
			 Croydon 2,620 2,640 2,590 2,880 2,820 2,860 2,880 2,890 3,000 
			 Ealing 2,230 2,220 2,250 2,240 2,220 2,320 2,310 2,300 2,330 
			 Enfield 2,550 2,610 2,650 2,740 2,670 2,670 2,820 2,880 2,950 
			 Haringey 1,870 1,830 1,860 1,850 1,850 1,890 1,910 1,910 1,970 
			 Harrow 1,580 1,500 1,490 1,380 1,490 1,500 1,550 1,560 1,590 
			 Havering 1,870 1,870 1,900 1,890 1,950 2,040 2,060 2,090 2,050 
			 Hillingdon 2,000 2,030 2,030 2,130 2,180 2,230 2,230 2,350 2,400 
			 Hounslow 2,000 1,940 1,980 1,950 2,020 2,010 2,010 2,120 2,160 
			 Kingston upon Thames 1,060 1,050 1,040 1,060 1,070 1,070 1,170 1,150 1,190 
			 Merton 1,210 1,170 1,190 1,150 1,210 1,210 1,240 1,180 1,260 
			 Newham 2,190 2,200 2,290 2,350 2,420 2,520 2,570 2,790 2,820 
			 Redbridge 2,100 2,130 2,180 2,200 2,370 2,380 2,470 2,510 2,470 
			 Richmond upon Thames 1,070 1,070 1,060 1,030 1,040 1,090 1,100 1,050 1,060 
			 Sutton 1,390 1,420 1,450 1,480 1,530 1,590 1,710 1,700 1,750 
			 Waltham Forest 2,010 2,080 2,090 2,060 1,940 2,020 1,940 2,080 2,120 
			 London 56,800 56,700 57,100 57,300 58,300 60,100 60,900 61,600 62,700 
			   
			 Former Berkshire 6,280 6,290 — — — — — — — 
			 Bracknell Forest — — 730 760 760 760 810 790 780 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead — — 1,000 1,000 990 1,060 1,050 1,130 1,120 
			 West Berkshire — — 1,310 1,440 1,330 1,400 1,440 1,500 1,520 
			 Reading — — 930 970 990 1,030 1,010 1,010 1,030 
			 Slough — — 1,060 1,040 1,090 1,320 1,180 1,150 1,230 
			 Wokingham — — 1,220 1,250 1,280 1,350 1,310 1,320 1,390 
			 Former Buckinghamshire 5.370 — — — — — — — — 
			 Buckinghamshire (post 1 April 1997) — 3,790 3,740 3.930 3,900 4,030 4,240 4,210 4,270 
			 Milton Keynes — 1,730 1,790 1,750 1.760 1,810 1,900 2,040 2,070 
			 Former East Sussex 5,110 — — — — — — — — 
			 East Sussex (post 1 April 1997) — 3,430 3,410 3,560 3,610 3,620 3,740 3,730 3,690 
			 Brighton and Hove — 1,600 1,650 1,660 1,730 1,800 1,770 1,770 1,750 
			 Former Hampshire 11,990 — — — — — — — — 
			 Hampshire (post 1 April 1997) — 8,960 8,980 8,980 8,970 9,310 9,370 9,380 9,680 
			 Portsmouth — 1,320 1,540 1,430 1,480 1,430 1,420 1,410 1,390 
			 Southampton — 1,670 1,670 1,640 1,640 1,710 1,700 1,740 1,730 
			 Isle of Wight 1,020 1,030 1,060 1,070 1,100 1,150 1,170 1,140 1,180 
			 Former Kent 13,180 13,080 — — — — — — — 
			 Kent (post 1 April 1998) — — 10,860 11,300 11,320 11,310 11,460 12,200 12,510 
			 Medway — — 2,280 2,180 2,180 2,200 2,520 2,560 2,500 
			 Oxfordshire 4,270 4,260 4,290 4,680 4,790 4,900 4,900 4,900 4,900 
			 Surrey 7,220 7,160 7,140 7,290 7,310 7,560 7,660 7,690 7,650 
			 West Sussex 5,400 5,490 5,590 5,560 5,610 5,770 5,920 5,810 5,890 
			 South East 59,800 59,800 60,300 61,500 61,800 63,500 64,600 65,500 66,300 
			   
			 Isles of Scilly 20 20 20 20 20 20 30 30 20 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 1,370 1,350 1,350 1,360 1,390 1,410 1,440 1,390 1,410 
			 City of Bristol 2,900 2,810 2,710 2,700 2,790 2,700 2,800 2,730 2,810 
			 North Somerset 1,450 1,380 1,360 1,360 1,420 1,480 1,490 1,500 1,540 
			 South Gloucestershire 1,970 1,980 2,050 2,090 2,120 2,160 2,180 2,180 2,180 
			 Cornwall 3,610 3,590 3,570 3,730 3,800 3,880 4,020 4,010 4.100 
			 Former Devon 7,700 7,800 — — — — — — — 
			 Devon (post 1 April 1998) — — 4,780 4,970 5,030 5,120 5,160 5,420 5,450 
			 Plymouth — — 2,150 2,180 2,210 2,250 2,250 2,200 2,210 
			 Torbay — — 960 910 970 1,060 1,040 1,080 1,140 
			 Former Dorset 4,730 — — — — — — — — 
			 Dorset (post 1 April 1997) — 2,790 2.770 2,790 2,880 2,940 3,050 3,120 3,100 
			 Poole — 1,060 1,010 1,010 1,030 1,050 1,090 1,070 1,060 
			 Bournemouth — 1,040 1,070 1,090 1,110 1,140 1,130 1,130 1,130 
			 Gloucestershire 4,410 4,460 4,480 4,620 4,680 4,910 5,080 5,170 5,100 
			 Somerset 3,480 3,480 3,380 3,530 3,770 3,770 3,890 3,980 4,090 
			 Former Wiltshire 4,690 — — — — — — — — 
			 Wiltshire (post 1 April 1997) — 3,180 3,170 3,100 3,340 3,390 3,520 3,560 3,680 
			 Swindon — 1,440 1,480 1,490 1,440 1,600 1,570 1,600 1,590 
			 South West 36,300 36,400 36,300 37,000 38,000 38,900 39,700 40,200 40,600 
			   
			 England 399,200 397,700 401,200 404,600 410,200 419,600 423,600 427,700 431,900 
		
	
	(24) Figures are for the maintained sector. Teachers in academies (including those that were previously maintained schools) are not included. See note to editors 1 in SFR 41/2005 for further details.
	(25) The first, second and third phases of local government reorganisation came into effect on 1 April 1996, 1 April 1997 and 1 April 1998 respectively. The new authorities are shown directly below their former parent local authorities.
	(26) Figures for Derbyshire and Leicestershire for 2003 may be overstated.
	Notes:
	1. See note to editors 2 in SFR 41/2005 for falling pupil numbers.
	2. Totals may not appear equal to the sum of the component parts because of rounding.
	Source:
	61 8g survey

Special Educational Needs

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent as a proportion of the total budget of the Lancashire local education authority on special needs education in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is only available from 2000–01 onwards and is contained within the following table.
	
		Budgeted net expenditure on the provision of education for children with special educational needs1,2 by Lancashire local authority since 2000–01
		
			  Budgeted net expenditure on the provision of education for children with special educational needs(30)(31)(£) Total education revenue expenditure(32)(£) Budgeted net expenditure on the provision of education for children with SEN as a percentage of total education revenue expenditure 
		
		
			 2000–01 79,766,000 511,182,000 15.6 
			 2001–02 82,826,000 543,019,000 15.3 
			 2002–03 86,666,000 569,835,000 15.2 
			 2003–04 99,347,000 608,216,000 16.3 
			 2004–05 106,320,000 641,611,000 16.6 
			 2005–06(33) 109,113,000 702,069,000 15.5 (16.1) 
		
	
	(30) Includes planned expenditure on the provision for pupils with statements and the provision for non-statemented pupils with SEN, support for inclusion, inter authority recoupment, fees for pupils at independent special schools and abroad, educational psychology service, local authority functions in relation to child protection, therapies and other health related services, parent partnership, guidance and information, the monitoring of SEN provision and inclusion administration, assessment and co-ordination. Also included is the funding delegated to nursery, primary and secondary schools identified as "notional SEN" and the individual schools budget (ISB) for special schools.
	(31) The ISB for special schools will include some general education costs for pupils with SEN in addition to those costs specifically for SEN while the figures recorded against "notional SEN" are only indicative of the amount that might be spent by schools on SEN. In 2005–06, Lancashire also budgeted £13.2 million for SEN transport expenditure but this is not included in the budgeted net expenditure on SEN as figures are not available prior to 2005–06.
	(32) Total Education Revenue Expenditure is the combination of the total schools budget and the total local authority budget. For the first time in 2005–06 Threshold and Performance Pay costs were recorded gross in the Section 52 Budget Statement which has had the effect of increasing Lancashire's 2005–06 total education revenue expenditure by over £24 million. Consequently, for comparison with earlier years, the adjusted budgeted net expenditure on the provision of education for children with SEN as a percentage of total education revenue expenditure in 2005–06 is 16.1 per cent. and this figure is included in brackets.
	(33) The data are drawn from Lancashire local authority's Section 52 Budget Statements (Tables 1 and 2) submitted to the DfES.
	Note:
	Figures are as reported by the LEA in cash terms and rounded to the nearest thousand pounds and may not sum due to rounding.

Superannuation Liability

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what total amount of employers' normal contributions accruing superannuation liability charge has been accounted for by his Office in each of the last five years for which data is available.

Jim Murphy: The amount of employers' accruing superannuation liability charges in respect of members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme in the last five years is shown in the table.
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 2004–05(36) 10,265 
			 2003–04(36) 10,298 
			 2002–03(36) 10,215 
			 2001–02 16,961 
			 2000–01 14,533 
		
	
	(36) From 1 October 2002 new entrants have been able to opt for a partnership pension partnership account, a stakeholder arrangement with an employer contribution. Employers' contributions to partnership pension accounts are not included in the figures.

Advertising Campaigns

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) national and (b) regional advertising campaigns his Department has carried out in each of the last three years; and what the cost was of (i) the creative work and (ii) the purchase of airtime and media space for each campaign.

Don Touhig: holding answer 23 March 2006
	The cost of the Services' recruit advertising campaigns for the years in question are as follows.
	
		
			   £ million 
			  Media costs Creative costs 
		
		
			 Naval Service   
			 National   
			 FY2003/04 3.413 1.084 
			 RM specific(37) 0.956 0 
			 FY2004/05 3.153 1.429 
			 RM specific(37) 2.260 0 
			 FY2005/06 2.386 0.672 
			 RM specific(37) 2.352 0 
			 Regional   
			 FY2003–04 0.300 (38)— 
			 FY2004–05 0.400 (38)— 
			 FY2005–06 0.493 (38)— 
			
			 Army   
			 National   
			 FY2003–04 4.500 0.900 
			 FY2004–05 11.100 1.900 
			 FY2005–06 16.000 2.500 
			 Regional   
			 FY2003–04 1.500 0.850 
			 FY2004–05 2.100 0.850 
			 FY2005–06 2.000 0.850 
			
			 RAF3   
			 National   
			 FY2003–04 2.649 0.481 
			 FY2004–05 2.039 0.929 
			 FY2005–06 1.881 0.075 
			 Regional 3   
		
	
	(37) The RM specific campaign costs are in addition to the Naval Service's main costs.
	(38) Naval Service regional advertising does not attract any creative costs. All creative work for adverts is carried out centrally to ensure continuity.
	(39) RAF recruit advertising is carried out centrally rather than on a regional basis.
	Naval Service recruit advertising includes specific campaigns aimed at attracting Royal Marine recruits and additional personnel from our ethnic minority communities and, in FY2005–06, a campaign to attract Engineers. National and regional advertising campaigns for the Regular Army, and national campaigns for the Territorial Army, are run every year: individual campaigns to address particular Army recruiting shortages are run periodically and are multi-media combining national with regional advertising. The RAF's annual national recruit advertising campaign costs includes an element for online costs.

Departmental Employees

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what compensation he has made available to those of his Department's employees who are based in Shropshire who do not wish to move to work in Bristol.

Adam Ingram: A business case is being developed within the Ministry of Defence that explores potential options for the collocation of the Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) with the Defence Procurement Agency in the Bristol/Bath area. This involves the possible withdrawal of the DLO from a number of locations, namely: Andover, the Foxhill site in Bath, RAF Brampton/Wyton, Castle Court in Sherborne, Caversfield near Bicester, Sapphire House in Telford, and Yeovilton.
	It would be wrong at this stage to speculate on the potential impact of eventual decisions on employees. I expect the business case to be presented for consideration in the Spring of this year, following which there will be a period of consultation with the Trades Unions.

Khalid Rashid

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any employee of the Government was (a) involved in and (b) present at the rendition of Khalid Rashid following his arrest on 31 October 2005 in Estcourt, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: It is the United Kingdom Government's understanding that Khalid Rashid was removed from South Africa on immigration grounds. This is a matter for the South African authorities.

Pornography

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the merits of commissioning research into the potential effects of hardcore pornography.

Paul Goggins: There has been no recent research commissioned specifically into the potential harm and influence of hardcore pornography. The last HO commissioned review of research in this areaPornography: Impacts and Influencesreported in 1990 and concluded that evidence of the adverse effects of pornography (in its broadest sense) was not clear cut.
	As part of the joint work which the Department of Health (DH) and the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) are doing on the Victims of Violence and Abuse Prevention Programme (WAPP), a Rapid Evidence Assessment has been jointly commissioned by the DH and the Home Office to assess the evidence of harm relating to exposure specifically to violent and extreme pornographic material.

Security Industry Authority

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Security Industry Authority (SIA) licences have been issued to personnel working in alarm control centres; and how many SIA licence applications are yet to be processed.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 21 March 2006
	Individuals who undertake specific licensable activities in Remote Video Recording Centres but who do not pro-actively monitor members of the public may be licensable as security guards. Because RVRC is not a separate licensable sector it is not possible to provide this information.

Afghanistan

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on human rights observance in Afghanistan, with particular reference to the freedom of religion.

Kim Howells: Although much progress has been made since the fall of the Taliban, the human rights situation in Afghanistan remains challenging. The Afghan Constitution provides for the protection of human rights and Article 2 provides for freedom of religion. The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission monitors respect for human rights and protects them. Afghanistan has acceded to the six main International Human Rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which guarantees freedom of religion. We take cases of religious persecution seriously and make known our concerns to the Government of Afghanistan (GoA), both bilaterally and through the EU.
	In 2005, the GoA adopted the National Action Plan on Peace, Reconciliation and Justice, which sets out a three-year comprehensive strategy on transitional justice and endorsed a strategic framework for justice sector reform entitled Justice for All. The latter framework is divided into five areas of activity: law reform, institution-building, access to justice programs, traditional justice and co-ordination.

Afghanistan

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Afghan government following the conviction of Abdul Rahman for the crime of apostasy.

Kim Howells: On 22 March, I made a public statement expressing the Government's concerns over the charges facing Mr. Rahman. I am deeply troubled by the reports of this case. Individuals should be able to practice their faith or beliefs free from persecution. We take every opportunity to urge states to implement laws and practices which foster tolerance and mutual respect.
	On 23 March my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs (Ian Pearson), summoned the Afghan Charg, to relay our concerns. On the same day our ambassador in Kabul raised our concerns direct with the Afghan government.
	Mr. Rahman has been released.

Askariya Shrine

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support and assistance the UK Government are providing for the reconstruction of the Askariya shrine in Samara; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said on 23 February, the Government stand ready to contribute to the reconstruction of the Shrine site. We will be guided on how best we do this by our friends within the Muslim communities in Iraq and Britain.

Iran

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the UK spent on promoting democracy in Iran in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: Encouraging respect for human rights and political freedoms is a key element of our approach towards Iran. We do not take sides in Iran's internal political debatesthese are for Iranians themselves to resolvebut seek to promote the internationally recognised principles to which many Iranians aspire including freedom of speech and transparent, genuinely democratic and accountable government.
	In line with long-standing EU policy, we are committed to supporting political reform. We continue to support the development of governmental and non-governmental organisations where opportunities arise. We do not publicise the details without the consent of our Iranian partners. The EU has allocated around 4.4 million to projects in Iran under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights. Three projects, to which the EU has allocated a total of 2.9 million, are implemented by United Nations agencies. A further lm project was launched in January 2005.
	Remedying the deficiencies in the democratic process will be a long-term process. In our private dialogue and public statements we continue to press the Iranian authorities on the need for reform. As I made clear in my speech to the International Institute of Strategic Studies on 13 March, this is an area where I believe the UK and EU should become more active.

Maldives

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of recent democratic reforms in the Maldives pursuant to the road maps announced by President Gayoom; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We strongly support continued democratic reform in the Maldives. We have been regularly encouraging the Government of the Maldives to quickly put in place a clear, time-bound framework with objectives and milestones for further progress. We hope the road-map that President Gayoom referred to at the official opening of the Maldivian Parliament on 23 February will provide this. We understand the road-map is due to be published by the end of March 2006.
	We welcome the important democratic changes that the Government of the Maldives have already introduced, including the legalisation of political parties in June 2005.
	Much remains to be done. Agreement on and implementation of further major democratic and constitutional changes will require an inclusive process reflecting the views of political parties, civil society and the general public in the Maldives. Dialogue between the political parties is essential. We fully support the work of the Commonwealth Secretary-General's Special Envoy and the Commonwealth Secretariat in facilitating dialogue on constitutional reform between the political parties.
	A genuine commitment to democracy requires all stakeholders to live up to the spirit as well as the letter of reform. We continue to urge the Government to do all in their power to remove potential obstacles to dialogue, including addressing the issue of legal actions which are seen to be politically motivated. Officials did so when they met the Maldivian Foreign Minister Dr. Ahmed Shaheed in London on 21 March. We also regularly urge the opposition to engage constructively, within the law and the current constitution.

National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha's of the United Kingdom concerning the Foreign Affairs Committee report on the Human Rights Annual Report 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Officials regularly meet representatives from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is to discuss the deteriorating situation faced by Baha'is in Iran. In addition, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is attended a meeting on 23 March of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) advisory panel on religious freedom. The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is has also discussed the written evidence that they gave to the Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) with officials from the FCO. We understand that the Baha'i Assembly is concerned that some elements of the evidence they submitted to the FAC appear to have been misinterpreted. Baha'i representatives noted that they supported the overall tone of the FCO Annual Human Rights Report as well as Government policy with respect to human rights in Iran.

Sudan

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the government of Sudan to ensure that (a) Ms Amouna Mohamed Ahmed, (b) Ms Fayza Ismail Abaker, (c) Ms Houda Ismail Abdel Rahman and (d) Ms Zahra Adam Abdella, who were arrested on 7 March, are properly treated in custody and receive a fair trial.

Ian Pearson: We are in close contact with the UN and Human Rights groups about the case of four women detained in El Serief camp on 7 March. The UN have confirmed that the four women have not been physically abused and have access to their lawyer and family. The Sudanese Organisation against Torture, which is partly funded by the UK, is providing free legal aid to the women. We have also instructed our Embassy in Khartoum to make representations to the Government of Sudan on this case.

Controlled Parking Zones

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much each London local authority spent on consultation on controlled parking zones (a) in each year since 1997 and (b) in each month since May 2003.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is not collected centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mobile Phone Masts

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what the planning process is for applications for new (a) pico cell, (b) micro cell and (c) macro cell mobile phone masts;
	(2)  whether planning permission is required to upgrade a 2G/2.5G mobile phone mast to 3G.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The terms picocell, microcell and macrocell are industry terms to distinguish different types of radio base stations. However, there is no industry standard or agreement on the specific types of base station to which each term applies and therefore these terms are not helpful for determining whether planning permission is required or not.
	In general terms a picocell is typically smaller than a microcell, although the distinction is not always clear. Picocell base stations are usually used to extend coverage to indoor areas where outdoor signals do not reach well, or to add network capacity in areas with very dense phone usage, such as train stations. The planning system cannot extend to changes inside a building unless there are internal features which have been listed. Other picocells antenna and small microcell antenna might be considered de minimis, i.e. it does not have a material effect on the external appearance of the building or structure on which it is installed and therefore will not require planning permission.
	Otherwise all electronic communications development will require planning permission unless it is development permitted by Part 24 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995, as amended. Whether planning permission is required to upgrade an existing mobile phone mast to a 3G mobile phone mast will need to be determined on a case by case basis.
	It should be noted that simply because small developments may not need planning permission it does not mean that there is no public consultation. The code of best practice that was produced jointly by central and local government and the mobile phone industry is clear that every potential site is rated using the Traffic Light Model. This model determines the level of public consultation that will be required if the site is selected for the installation.

Coastal Erosion

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of coastal erosion around Northern Ireland;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the incidence of coastal erosion around Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: A comprehensive report on Implications for Climate Change for Northern Ireland: Informing Strategy Development, published in 2002 by the Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER), examined the likely impacts of climate change across a wide range of sectors, including coastal impacts. Findings included loss of intertidal areas of open coasts, loss of marshes with associated habitat and erosion of dune coasts.
	The DOE has recently commissioned SNIFFER to provide an updated report. The study will incorporate a risk assessment and will recommend adaptation strategies for the key impacts identified. Coastal impacts will be included. The work is due to be completed by the end of 2006. It will also help inform Northern Ireland's input into wider UK policy.
	Coastal erosion is a natural phenomenon and no overall assessment of its incidence has been made but the relevant statutory agencies do monitor and, where necessary, respond to incidences of such erosion which might affect services for which they are responsible.

Draft Planning Policy Statement 14

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment has been made of the impact of draft Planning Policy Statement 14 on small rural building contractors.

Shaun Woodward: The Department carried out a wide-ranging public consultation during the preparation of draft Planning Policy Statement 14Sustainable Development in the Countryside which included an invitation to public consultation through the publication of an Issues Paper in June 2004. As part of the follow-up process, officials met with a range of groups and political parties, including the Construction Employers Federation.

Rateable Values (New Build)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what average length of time was taken to calculate the rateable values of newly-built properties in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and what steps are being taken to reduce the time.

Angela Smith: The precise data that the hon. Member has requested is not available. The Valuation and Lands Agency does, however, focus on the critical time period for ratepayers: the gap between the date of occupation and the date of valuation assessment and billing. The Agency, recognising the ratepayer's desire to avoid substantial demands for backdated rates, has for many years targeted its performance on this time period, striving to improve the overall outcome.
	The current target is to issue at least 90 per cent. of all those rating revision cases (excluding domestic alterations), which are subject to retrospective backdating, within 12 months of the revision date. The out-turn for this key target over the last five years is as follows.
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 200001 93 
			 200102 94 
			 200203 92 
			 200304 Not reported on(41) 
			 200405 90 
		
	
	(41) This was the year following the publication of the 2003 non-domestic revaluation when backdating was limited by statute to 1 April 2003.
	Conscious of the importance of achieving early and accurate valuation and billing for all stakeholdersratepayers, local authorities and Governmentthe Agency has sought not merely to improve on these figures but to achieve a step change in performance. To this end the Agency, in April 2005, entered into a joint project with Belfast city council (building control) for the timely provision by the council of full survey details on all changes to properties (including new builds).
	In Belfast this project has significantly reduced the average time involvement by the Agency and increased productivity almost threefold. No comparable backdating figures are yet available, but a substantial improvement is anticipated.
	We are currently in the process of extending the project to include Derry and Lisburn city councils later in 2006 and eventually, by agreement, to all councils.

Benefit Payment

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether it is the Government's intention that eventually all distinctions should be abolished between the benefits paid to people who are capable of work and those who are incapable of work.

James Plaskitt: We want a simpler and more transparent benefits system and aim to remove any distinctions that are not necessary to reflect real differences in capacity to work or financial need. Our Green Paper, A new deal for welfare: empowering people to work set out our longer-term vision of a single gateway to financial and back to work support for all claimants and a single system of working age benefits, with appropriate additions for people who have a long-term illness or disability.

Council Tax

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made using the Government's standard measure of the number of households paying council tax which are in poverty;
	(2)  what estimate he has made using the Government's standard measure of the number of children in poverty who are in council tax paying households.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 8 March 2006
	The seventh annual 'Opportunity for all' report (Cm 6673) sets out the Government's strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and reports progress against a range of indicators. The report includes headline indicators on the number and proportion of children and adults living in low income households, also published in Households Below Average Income 199495200405, available in the Library.
	The figures given in the tables show people who are paying any amount of council tax, many of them will be receiving some council tax benefit but not the full amount.
	(i) The estimate of the number of households that report paying council tax, with incomes below 60 per cent. of contemporary mediana measure of 'relative' low incomeare presented in the table.
	
		Number of households with incomes less than 60 per cent. of contemporary median paying council tax, 200405, Great Britain
		
			  Paying council tax and in relative low income All relative low income households All households 
		
		
			 Before housing costs 2,800,000 4,100,000 24,600,000 
			 After housing costs 3,100,000 4,800,000 24,600,000 
		
	
	The estimate of the number of households that report paying council tax, with incomes below 60 per cent. of 199697 GB mediana measure of 'absolute' low incomeare presented in the table.
	
		Number of households with incomes less than 60 per cent. of 199697 median paying council tax, 200405, Great Britain
		
			  Paying council tax and in absolute low income All absolute low income households All households 
		
		
			 Before housing costs 1,800,000 2,400,000 24,600,000 
			 After housing costs 1,900,000 3,000,000 24,600,000 
		
	
	(ii) The estimate of the number of children living in households that report paying council tax, with incomes below 60 per cent. of contemporary mediana measure of 'relative' low incomeare presented in the table.
	
		Number of children living in households with incomes less than 60 per cent. of contemporary median paying council tax, 200405,Great Britain
		
			  Paying council tax and in relative low income All relative low income households All children 
		
		
			 Before housing costs 1,500,000 2,400,000 12,600,000 
			 After housing costs 1,900,000 3,400,000 12,600,000 
		
	
	The estimate of the number of children living in households that report paying council tax, with incomes below 60 per cent. of 199697 GB mediana measure of 'absolute' low incomeare presented in the table.
	
		Number of children living in households with incomes less than 60 per cent. of 199697 median paying council tax, 200405, Great Britain
		
			  Paying council tax and in absolute low income All absolute low income households All children 
		
		
			 Before housing costs 900,000 1,400,000 12,600,000 
			 After housing costs 1,100,000 1,900,000 12,600,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Households 'paying council tax' includes households in receipt of a partial council tax benefit award.
	2. Figures rounded to the nearest 100 thousand.
	3. Incomes below 60 per cent. of contemporary median is a measure of 'relative' low income.
	4. Incomes below 60 per cent. of 199697 GB mediana measure of 'absolute' low income.
	Source:
	Family Resources Survey

Income Growth

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the real increase in the income of each income decile was in each year since 197879; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The information is in the tables.
	Information is shown for incomes measured before housing costs were deducted (BHC) and for incomes after housing costs were deducted (AHC).
	Median incomes of deciles of the 1979 to 199597 Before Housing Costs (BHC) income distributions are in the following table: 1.1
	
		
			
			  Decile 
			  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 
		
		
			 1979 110 137 160 183 205 230 258 294 341 447 
			 1981 108 133 156 177 201 226 255 291 346 455 
			 1987 115 143 168 199 231 262 299 349 423 605 
			 198889 112 145 174 209 245 282 324 377 459 644 
			 199091 108 145 177 214 251 293 338 401 488 706 
			 199192 109 146 177 213 252 294 338 400 490 703 
			 199293 110 148 180 213 251 293 340 401 490 698 
			 199395 116 156 187 220 256 298 345 402 494 709 
		
	
	Note:
	pw equivalised to 200304 prices.
	Source:
	Family Expenditure Survey (UK)
	Median incomes of deciles of the 199495 to 200304 income distributions Before Housing Costs (BHC) are in the following table: 1.2
	
		
			
			  Decile 
			  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 
		
		
			 199495 117 156 186 217 254 295 342 402 489 702 
			 199596 118 158 188 219 254 294 342 400 494 704 
			 199697 121 161 193 227 264 307 354 415 507 723 
			 199798 119 163 196 230 270 311 360 421 515 735 
			 199899 122 166 200 234 273 317 369 434 530 778 
			 19992000 124 172 205 240 282 325 377 444 538 783 
			 200001 126 179 215 251 291 335 388 457 558 812 
			 200102 135 188 226 265 306 351 402 471 583 851 
			 200203 134 192 231 269 311 359 411 477 586 860 
			 200304 134 193 233 271 313 359 412 483 584 856 
		
	
	Note:
	pw equivalised to 200304 prices.
	Source:
	The Family Resources Survey (FRS)
	Median incomes of deciles of the 1979 to 199597 income distributions After Housing Costs (AHC) are in the following table: 1.3
	
		
			
			  Decile 
			  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 
		
		
			 1979 88 113 131 151 171 192 217 246 286 377 
			 1981 85 107 126 147 168 190 215 248 293 390 
			 1987 85 112 134 161 190 219 254 297 357 522 
			 198889 83 114 140 172 205 238 274 321 392 552 
			 199091 76 112 140 175 209 246 287 340 414 609 
			 199192 73 112 139 175 210 247 287 343 417 611 
			 199293 72 113 139 173 211 248 289 343 420 607 
			 199395 77 117 145 178 214 251 294 344 425 622 
		
	
	Note:
	pw equivalised to 200304 prices.
	Source:
	Family Expenditure Survey (UK)
	Median incomes of deciles of the 199495 to 200304 income distributions After Housing Costs (AHC) are in the following table: 1.4
	
		
			
			  Decile 
			  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 
		
		
			 199495 68 114 140 174 208 247 290 344 419 607 
			 199596 75 116 141 173 209 246 288 341 422 613 
			 199697 78 117 144 181 220 259 303 358 439 634 
			 199798 76 119 150 187 224 264 308 364 447 643 
			 199899 82 122 153 190 228 269 318 374 462 686 
			 19992000 82 128 160 197 237 279 326 386 474 701 
			 200001 82 135 170 208 249 290 339 401 494 722 
			 200102 91 145 181 224 263 305 354 415 516 768 
			 200203 90 150 188 229 272 316 366 428 527 778 
			 200304 88 152 193 233 274 320 370 434 533 789 
		
	
	Note:
	pw equivalised to 200304 prices.
	Source:
	The Family Resources Survey (FRS)
	Notes to all tables:
	1. Real income growth is shown by the changes in decile income medians which have been adjusted for inflation.
	2. The Before Housing Costs and After Housing Costs income deciles are consistent with methodology used in DWP's National Statistics(42) series, Households Below Average Income.
	3. Comparisons for the bottom decile should be treated with more caution. Decile medians for the bottom 10 per cent. are more volatile as they are affected to a greater extent by the composition of that decile, particularly by changes in the proportion of people who report very low incomes.
	4. Caution should be exercised when interpreting changes over shorter time periods.
	5. The Family Expenditure Survey (FES) data covers selected years from 1979 until 199597 where information are available. The Family Resources Survey (FRS) data is for all financial years 199495 until 200304.
	6. Comparisons of estimates between the two sources should be treated carefully:
	FES figures are for the United Kingdom, FRS figures are for Great Britain.
	The reference period for FRS figures is single financial years. FES figures are single calendar years from 197987, two combined calendar years from 198889 to 199293 and two financial years combined from 199395 to 199597.
	The FRS was established by the then Department of Social Security in order to meet the Department's analytical requirements.
	A review, available on the internet, into the differences in income values between the two surveys concluded that the differences in monetary value estimates across surveys were too large to justify publishing direct comparisons. Furthermore, large fluctuations in the difference between surveys for overlapping years mean that, in many cases, an adjusted, or a spliced time series may be no more accurate than the unadjusted series.

Asperger's Syndrome

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to ensure that children diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome receive appropriate support and intervention from child and adolescent mental health services.

Liam Byrne: The diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome in itself does not necessarily mean that a mental health service is required unless there is an associated mental health problem.
	Standard 8 of the national service framework for children, young people and maternity deals with disabled children and young people. It recognised that children and young people with an autistic disorder, such as Asperger's, have particular needs and that they have often found it difficult to access child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) if they were needed. The framework states
	primary care trusts, local authorities and CAMHS ensure that disabled children have equal access to CAMHS.
	In addition, an exemplar has been published for children with an autistic spectrum disorder. It seeks to illustrate a care pathway for children with this disability and includes an assessment for mental health problems.

Cancer

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to extend the age range of bowel cancer screening following the implementation of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 27 March 2006
	The risk of bowel cancer increases with age, with over 80 per cent. of bowel cancers arising in people who are 60 or over. Men and women aged over 70 will be able to self-refer for screening every two years.
	When we have rolled out the programmed to the whole country, we will make an assessment on whether to expand it to other age groups.

Cancer

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the possible link between cancer and organochlorines in infants and young adults; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Department has not carried out a general review of the possible link between cancer and organochlorines in infants and young adults. The committee on carcinogenicity of chemicals in food, consumer products and the environment reviewed the carcinogenicity of dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in 2001. It concluded that 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin should be regarded as a probable human carcinogen but commented that any increased risk of cancer at background levels of exposure is likely to be extremely small and not detectable by current epidemiological methods. The committee also recently reviewed the overall evidence for chemical causes of childhood cancer, particularly for those cancers that are increasing in incidence. It concluded that there is little evidence for chemical causation of these cancers. The committee's reviews is available on its website at www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/coc/index.htm or in its annual reports.

Chlamydia

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of primary care trusts is participating in the chlamydia screening programme.

Caroline Flint: We have rolled out the programme successfully to 25 per cent. of primary care trusts (PCTs). We expect the remaining PCTs to start to come on board as of April 2006. The Health Protection Agency is now leading the roll out of the programme.
	The White Paper, Choosing Health: Making Healthier choices easier, a copy of which is available at the Library, announced an accelerated timetable to achieve national roll out of the national chlamydia screening programme by 2007. We are well on track to meet this target.

Community Hospitals

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her Department's definition is of a community hospital in a rural area.

Liam Byrne: Community hospitals encompass a wide range of institutions, which provide a diverse number of health and social care services, which means they are difficult to define. However, the White Paper, Our Health, Our Care, Our Say: a new Direction for Community Services defines a community hospital as:
	A service which offers integrated health and social care and is supported by community- based professionals.
	Local hospitals serving relatively small populations (less than 100,000), providing a range of clinical services but not equipped to handle emergency admissions on a 24/7 basis.
	No distinction is made over whether a community hospital is situated within a rural or urban location.

Education/Training Budgets

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much she has budgeted for (a) non-medical education and training and (b) multi-professional education and training in each year since 1999.

Liam Byrne: The amount budgeted for non-medical education and training and multi-professional education and training in each year since 1999 is shown in the table.
	
		
			million 
			  Non-medical education and training Multi-professional education and training 
		
		
			 19992000 905 2,056 
			 200001 1,052 2,385 
			 200102 1,141 2,545 
			 200203 1,336 3,076 
			 200304 1,551 3,436 
			 200405 1,743 3,813 
			 200506 1,721 3,929

Genetics

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the total planned investment on genetics of 50 million referred to on page 5 of her Department's White Paper Our Inheritance: Our Future, published June 2003, Cm 5791-II has been achieved; and if she will break down spending by main expenditure area.

Jane Kennedy: The funding of 50 million announced in the genetics White Paper, Our Inheritance, Our Future built on an earlier commitment made in April 2001 by the then Secretary of State for Health to invest 30 million in national health service genetic services. By the end of financial year 200506, we will have invested 52.4 million equipping the NHS to make appropriate use of genetic knowledge and technology as it becomes available. The breakdown of this investment in genetics under the White Paper and earlier commitments is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Investment in genetics  million 
		
		
			 Strengthening specialised genetic services via investment in upgrading NHS genetic laboratories and recruiting more consultants, genetic counsellors and laboratory staff. 40.9 
			 Building genetics into mainstream services by piloting new ways of integrating genetics into other specialties (such as cancer) and primary care. 3.6 
			 Spreading genetics knowledge across the NHS via a new NHS national genetics education and development centre, a genetics specialist library of the national electronic library for health, and other educational and information initiatives for health care professionals and the public. 2.1 
			 Generating new knowledge by funding research into pharmacogenetics, gene therapy and health services research in genetics. 5.8 
		
	
	The White Paper included a commitment to review progress after three years to see what more needs to be done.

Local Improvement Finance Trusts

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what target is in place for development of local improvement finance trust schemes.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 27 March 2006
	NHS LIFT was announced in the NHS Plan which also identified LIFT, along side other existing primary care procurement routes, as a mechanism to support the delivery of the following:
	Up to 1 billion investment in primary care facilities;
	Up to 3,000 family doctors' premises substantially refurbished or replaced by 2004; and
	500 one stop primary care centres delivered by 2004, which has further been extended by delivering the NHS Plan to 750 by 2008.
	There are no further national targets on LIFT because, in line with Shifting the Balance of Power, NHS LIFT is a mechanism to be used by primary care trusts locally to support the delivery of their service modernisation programme as detailed in their individual strategic service development plan.

Methadone

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice her Department offers to patients who are prescribed methadone on where the medicine should be administered.

Caroline Flint: Patients are told that methadone and other prescribed drugs must be kept out of reach of children, and it is required that all medicines be provided in child resistant containers.
	The Department published Drug Misuse and DependenceGuidelines on Clinical Management (1999), which gives advice and assists general practitioners (GPs) and specialist drug treatment workers in giving appropriate substitute prescribing advice to patients.
	The guidelines 1 advise that methadone dose consumption should usually be supervised by either the patient's GP, a nurse or community pharmacist for the first three months of prescribing. In the rare event that such initial doses are to be taken unsupervised, the dose should be set to minimise the risk of unsolicited use and methadone diversion.
	Pharmacists are provided with training packs provided by the centre for pharmacy post-graduate education, Opiate treatment: supporting pharmacists for improved patient care which pharmacists are recommended to complete if taking part in the enhanced service to provide supervised consumption. This specifically covers the risks to children and opiate naive individuals of overdose.
	Best practice guidance 2 to pharmaceutical services for drug users was published in February 2006 to help ensure the provision of verbal and written information on the safe storage of controlled drugs. Additionally, guidance for administration of medicine within pharmacies, which includes methadone, The NHS community pharmacy contractual framework enhance servicesupervised administration (consumption of prescribed medicines), was published in September 2005.
	1 Drug Misuse and DependenceGuidelines on Clinical Management, 1999.
	2 Best practice guidance for commissioners and providers of pharmaceutical services for drug users, February 2006 (Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, national treatment agency for substance misuse, pharmaceutical services negotiating committee, PharMag, NHS).

Sexual and Reproductive Health

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what definition her Department uses of (a) sexual and (b) reproductive health; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Department aims to work to a comprehensive and holistic model of sexual and reproductive health as described in the 'National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV' (2001) as follows:
	Sexual health is an important part of physical and mental health. It is a key part of our identity as human beings together with the fundamental human rights to privacy, a family life and living free from discrimination. Essential elements of good sexual health are equitable relationships and sexual fulfilment with access to information and services to avoid the risk of unintended pregnancy, illness or disease.
	This holistic definition of sexual health is endorsed by the Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV 1 .
	For the purposes of implementing national sexual health policy we consider that it includes programmes of work covering genitor-urinary medicine (GUM) services, sexual health promotion and prevention of sexual ill health, including HIV prevention, sexual health diagnoses and treatment in non-GUM settings, contraception services and termination of pregnancy.
	1 Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV, 'Response to the Health Select Committee Report on Sexual Health', January 2004.

Sexual and Reproductive Health

Si�n Simon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the priority her Department gives to improving access to sexual health services.

Caroline Flint: Sexual health was identified as a key priority in the public health White Paper, Choosing Health, backed by major new investment of 300 million over three years and improved performance management to ensure delivery at local level. In particular, we are monitoring the progress towards targets to reduce the level of new infections of gonorrhoea, as a marker for all sexually transmitted infections, to ensure patients have access to genito-urinary medicine clinics within 48 hours by 2008 and numbers of screens undertaken in the chlamydia screening programme. These improved performance measures, should significantly strengthen the incentive for local investment and service modernisation.
	In addition, the Operating Framework for 2006/7 for the NHS in England was published on 26 January. This sets out six specific service priorities for 200607 on which there will be a particular focus and are identified as a priority for action. One of the six is sexual health and access to genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics: to deliver the 200607 local delivery plan trajectories so that by 2008 everyone referred to a GUM clinic should have an appointment within 48 hours. This sends a clear message about the need to invest in GUM access and sexual health more broadly, and will support service re-engineering and modernisation.

Smoking

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to ensure that local authorities have sufficient resources from 200607 in order to enforce effectively the proposed ban on smoking in public places.

Caroline Flint: Following the commitment in the White Paper, Choosing Health that
	we will be working with local government to assess the resources implications of relevant initiatives before they are implemented.
	Departmental officials are in discussion with the Local Government Association and other key stakeholders on the detail of what resources will be needed. It is our intention that appropriate resources be in place to ensure smooth introduction of the smoke-free legislation.

Torbay Hospital

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to make a decision on the proposals for rebuilding Torbay hospital.

Caroline Flint: The full business case (FBC) for this scheme has been prepared and submitted to South West Peninsula strategic health authority (SHA) for approval. Following publication of The NHS in England: the operating framework for 200607 on 26 January, South Devon Healthcare national health service trust will now need to revalidate the approval parameters for the scheme by responding to a range of questions from the Department concerning factors such as long-term affordability, assumptions on efficiency gains and income growth, liquidity, activity shift and reference cost.
	The trust will then need to have its conclusions ratified by the Department before proceeding. Departmental officials will shortly be writing to all trusts with private finance initiative schemes explaining how this process will proceed.

Trans Fats

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether she has assessed the merits of placing a legal maximum on the level of trans fats in food in England;
	(2)  whether her Department (a) has made and (b) plans to make an assessment of (i) the technological feasibility of replacing trans fats in food with less harmful fats and (ii) the likely costs to the food production industry that would result;
	(3)  whether her Department (a) has made and (b) plans to make an assessment of the (i) potential effects on levels of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, obesity, omega-3 nutritional status, pre-eclampsia and atopic disorders and (ii) general public health effects of the imposition of legal maximums on the level of trans fats in food.

Caroline Flint: In 1994, the committee on medical aspects of food policy (COMA) reviewed the evidence on the adverse effects of trans unsaturated fatty acids (TFA) on coronary heart disease risk and recommended that average intakes should not exceed 2 per cent. total energy. In 198687 average intakes were 2 per cent. total energy and by 200001 this had reduced to an average intake of 1.1 per cent. total energy. Intakes of saturated fat, however, at 13.4 per cent. are higher than the COMA recommendation of 11 per cent. The Government's priority therefore is to reduce saturated fat intake, and action to encourage reductions is under way. Opportunities to reduce TFA intakes are being considered in this wider context.
	No assessment has been made of the feasibility, costs or health benefits related to placing a legal maximum on the occurrence of TFA in foods, and there are currently no plans to make such assessments. Some manufacturers and retailers have taken steps to eliminate, or reduce, hydrogenated vegetable oils, which contain TFA, in their products. Government have no data on the associated costs of these activities.

Tote

Ben Wallace: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list (a) financial institutions and (b) private equity houses with which he has discussed the sale of the Tote.

John Healey: Treasury Ministers discuss a wide range of issues with a variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of policy development and analysis. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all these discussions.